The mother contacted KCTV5 News, and said she felt like the St. Joseph School District didn’t take bullying seriously. She said she wants her child to be “homebound schooled,” where a student does lessons at home but still has teacher support.

Anna has been hospitalized and diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD.

“Terrified. To go there and to know I was going to be in that situation,” she said.

Keitz said her daughter was targeted by boys for telling teachers about that gun. She says Anna was kicked in the head on the playground, and then the rest of the class slowly turned on her daughter too.

“If I asked to sit down, they would tell me that I couldn’t sit there or they would literally push me out of the group and have all their friends together and block spots … go to the extra table by myself,” Anna said.

Anna describes a combination of taunts and social isolation. The kids picked on her clothes and her long hair.

“They wrapped my hair around my neck and said I can choke myself with it,” Anna said.

Keitz filed two police reports then began joining her daughter every day for lunch. Then, she stayed for the library where she says kids would pick on her daughter.

“It’s not drama. She’s begging for help,” Keitz said.

Keitz said, ironically, she was the one who got in trouble. She was banned from school property for being disruptive.

“Your conduct at Skaith is interfering with the learning environment there and has become an undue distraction to the staff and students at the school,” the school district said in a letter to Keitz.

Keitz said the district considers her a problem parent. The district said they can’t comment on specific cases, but the superintendent agreed to speak about bullying in general.

“We take appropriate action whether that’s disciplining the instigator behind that or whatever actions to happen to stop it,” superintendent Robert Newhart said.

The school district began an anti-bullying program about 10 years ago. Like most schools, bullying is officially banned and now part of school board policy. Bullying and hazing are defined, and students are encouraged to report it.

Tina Meier’s daughter, Megan Meier, should be 23 years old, but she died 10 years ago. She hung herself in her closet. She was the victim of cyber bullying. Today, Tina Meier runs the Megan Meier Foundation.

“No one understands it until you’ve walked in those shoes. And it’s truly devastating when you have a kid that is not fitting in,” Meier said.

Meier said schools and parents have the same goals of helping kids, but emotions can run high.

“Parents come in and they are out of control, upset, angry and hurt. They don’t know what to do they come in like a fireball,” Meier said.

Meier advises parents to remain calm, try to get as many specific details as possible, keep a log and try to keep your child involved in activities, especially those away from problem students.